speaking on on cnbc thursday, the co-chairs of president obama's deficit commission alan simpson and erskine bowles say you law make are haven't been focused on what's really right for the country. >> leaders who think it would be to their advantage to go off a fiscal cliff. what a wonderful trait that is. that we can win more democrats if we let it go over, we can win more with republicans. this whole game is not about win or lose. it's about how do we make the dems lose and how do we make the republicans lose. people are sick of that and they're ashamed of if. >> if we do get our house in order, the future of america is really bright. and we can compete with the best and brightest. if we don't, we're well on on our way to becoming a second rate power. >> simpson isn't hopeful a deal will be reached before the end of the year. bowles sees a one third chance. on that optimistic note, joining us is ben white from politico. so what's it going to be, economic chaos? >> no, i think i'm at more saa more sanguine. republicans lost seats in the house and senate and big at the presidential l